According to Shaanxi Aircraft Company's press release, (here) the PLA has placed its single-largest order for the Y-8C tactical transport aircraft to date. The exact number of aircrafts involved with this order has not been made public but it is rumored over a dozen and training of the new ground support personnel has already started. (here)(here)

The Y-8C order has been under negotiation for some time and does not seem to be related to the recent Airborne Maneuver 2009 military exercise. However, it does indicate that PLAAF is no longer waiting for the Y-9 project to bear fruit (here) and opted for a less capable but presently available solution for its immediate tactical airlift need.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Few weeks ago, the Chinese road construction and flood relief operations in the Pakistan controlled part of Kashmir caused a stir, wonder the same reaction would apply in-light of China's infrastructure work in the India side.

As the United States sits in India’s bad books for its recent moves against outsourcing, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government is laying a pathway for China to invest in the country’s roads and highways projects.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government is laying a pathway for China to invest in the country’s roads and highways projects. On Wednesday, India’s roads minister, Kamal Nath, on an official trip to Beijing, countered reports that the federal government has barred joint ventures for investments with China-based companies and said India was ready for Chinese investments in its massive highway expansion in all regions including the sensitive border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.

Welcoming Chinese involvement hasn’t been the government’s stance in other areas. The Mint newspaper earlier reported that the government has forbid joint ventures with investments from China-based companies from participating in the ninth round of India’s oil and gas exploration and licensing auctions.

But it appears to be softening. The government has also scrapped a cap it had placed last year on the number of visas that could be issued to Chinese workers involved in various projects in the country, the Press Trust of India reported this week.

India had tightened its visa rules last December in a way that demanded a closer scrutiny of applications in case more than 1% of a project’s work force were outsiders amid concerns that a large number of foreign nationals were being brought to work, marginalizing employment opportunities for locals. Under the revised rules, only skilled workers will get employment visas in place of the business ones that were issued earlier.

“The government of India cleared (the project) from security point of view,” Mr. Nath said in Beijing Wednesday. “We awarded the contract because of Chinese involvement in terms of investment, project management and technology.”

Mr. Kondapalli, however, advised that India should continue to tread cautiously, rather than throwing open its doors to the Great Neighbor to the north.

“India should not jump the gun,” he said. “But wait to see how China reacts to the hand of friendship,” he said.–Vibhuti Agarwal

Selig S. Harrison's August 26th 2010 OpEd "China's Discreet Hold on Northern Borderlands (here) (an OpEd is not the same as a report) published by the New York Time has caused a stir -- it claims China has deployed 7000 to 11,000 PLA soldiers in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

" True, the Chinese in Gilgit-Baltistan are not combat soldiers, and their work on flood relief and economic development has positive benefits. But the impact of such a large foreign presence in a thinly populated, undeveloped region has been profound."

You can read the entire exchange from the New York Times link posted above.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's customs agents said Sept. 23 they had seized a tank bound for South Korea after the high-tech amphibious military vehicle was discovered at one of the city's container terminals.

Officials intercepted two containers on Sept. 20 carrying the unlicensed tank and accessories, the customs and excise department said in a statement.

"Preliminary investigation shows that the tank and the accessories were shipped from Saudi Arabia to Busan, Republic of Korea with transshipment via (Hong Kong) after an exhibition. Further investigation is ongoing.

Doosan DST, the South Korean weapons manufacturer that produced the K-21 tank, said the seizure was due to a missing customs document, adding that it would send the form to Hong Kong by Sept. 24.

The tank arrived in Hong Kong after being shown to potential clients in Saudi Arabia, the company said.

The South China Morning Post said the vehicle was a disarmed version of the K-21, one of the most advanced land weapons under development in Asia. No arrests have been made since the seizure, it reported.

South Korea's foreign ministry could not be reached for comment.

The seizure comes after South Korea's defense ministry said it was investigating design flaws in the light tanks, which were launched late last year, the Post said.

A South Korean soldier died in July after the 26-ton vehicle he was traveling in sank during a river crossing, the Post said.

Some media reports suggested a faulty pump was to blame for the accident.

The tank was developed over a decade by the South Korean defense ministry and local defense firms, the paper said.

China has chosen the Royal Australian Navy as its partner for what are being called the most intense war games with a foreign power in the nation's history.

China has never allowed Western media onto one of its navy ships during live target practice before but times are changing.

The ABC was granted exclusive access aboard Chinese Navy frigate Luoyang as it took part in the exercises on the Yellow Sea off northern China.

Luoyang's 80 millimetre guns opened up on a target almost three kilometres away. Smoke filled the Yellow Sea air after each firing.

Also firing was the Australian frigate HMAS Waramanga, which is also taking part in the joint exercises.

Chinese lieutenant commander Tony Cao is happy with the result.

"We had very good cooperation today," he said.

"I think that shows our relationship."

After criticism it is too secretive about its military build-up, China is on a charm offensive and has chosen Australia as a partner to show the world its intentions are peaceful.

One reason for the change could be military tension between China and the United States.

China is unhappy about US arms sales to Taiwan and Commander Cao says Americans are refused invitations to take part in joint naval exercises.

"If the United States stops selling the weapons to Taiwan and stopping spying us with the air or the surface, I think that will do good to the communication and to the cooperation between our two countries," he said.

Commander Bruce Legge, the Australian frigate's commanding officer, says even though Australia is a close ally of the United States, tensions between Washington and Beijing are not any of his business.

"Well I don't even think it's necessary to have the US here because it allows Australia to just concentrate on working together," he said.

"You know we're working very closely with China, we certainly don't need America to do that and you can see just how forward we're moving with this."

Last year Canberra named China as Australia's biggest strategic threat, prompting an angry response from the Chinese foreign ministry.

But as an Australian Seahawk helicopter performs a daring winch manoeuvre hovering above the flight deck of the Chinese frigate, it seems that dispute is ancient history.

A weeklong joint naval drill between the People's Liberation Army Navy of China (PLAN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is underway in the Yellow Sea, media reports said Friday.

According to chinanews. com.cn, the PLAN frigate Luoyang and the RAN frigate HMAS Waramanga conducted a live-fire exercise Thursday off the coast of Qingdao, Shan-dong Province.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, the exercises wrapped up the Australian war-ship's four-day visit to Qingdao. Its next stop will be the city of Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, where more naval exercises will be conducted.

"Both warships exercised live-firing, which was rare in previous naval drills attended by the PLAN," Senior Colonel Huang Xueping, spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, told chinanews.com. cn. "At the same time, a group of Chinese warships are visiting Australian coastal cities. This is the first simultaneous naval-exchange between the two militaries."

HMAS Warramunga's Commanding Officer, Commander Bruce Legge, said the exercise provided his crew with the opportunity to hone their skills with a regional partner, RAN's official website reported.

"While we are used to operating with other nations from our region, this is the first time we have undertaken such a complex exercise with the Chinese, and we are looking forward to building on this experience," Legge told the website.

"There is nothing more effective than working closely together in a military exercise to build trust and friendship between navies and nations," Legge added.

The RAN also has a naval drill with the Republic of Singapore Navy in the South China Sea starting September 18.

"The RAN welcomes the constructive contributions that the PLAN has made to regional security to date," Vice Admiral Russ Crane said. "Australia is committed to developing strong and positive defense relations with China."

According to ABC News, last year Canberra named China as Australia's biggest strategic threat, prompting an angry response from the Chinese foreign ministry.

ABC News also reported that the US Navy was refused an invitation to take part in the joint naval exercises with the PLAN.

The 17-day drill, which began September 9, is aimed at testing the interoperability of the SCO armed forces in rendering assistance to a member state involved in an internal armed conflict or subjected to a terrorist attack.

More than 300 military vehicles and over 50 combat aircraft and helicopters from China, Russia and Kazakhstan are being employed. China has sent 1,000 troops.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

It is based on their Protector line of body armor vest that had been around over a decade but this new version had probably borrowed many design features from US Interceptor design including the overlapping front, side adjustment strips, detachable throat and groin protector, more importantly, the hard plate pockets and MOLLE.

A note on the Chinese hard plate, since they don't have access to the material to make boron carbide ceramic, their higher-end plates use aluminum oxide ceramic but because the Chinese military is typically cheap-stick, most of their hard plates use ballistic steel, which is up to 3 times heavier than the ceramic plates.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

SYDNEY, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lion dancers, a naval band and throngs of smartly dressed Chinese locals turned out to welcome two Chinese warships to Australia on Monday.

The training ship Zhenghe and the frigate Mianyang arrived at Garden Island, in Sydney's east, about 11 a.m. (local time).

The ships are in Sydney as part of an exercise aimed at strengthening defence ties between Australia and China.

There are 580 sailors, including 200 naval cadets and three Chinese admirals on board.

They are welcomed with a warm reception from about 150 smartly dressed members of Sydney's Chinese community, who waved them in with dozens of Australian and Chinese flags.

The Chinese locals also welcomed the navy with confetti, chanting and a Chinese lion dance.

When the Chinese rear admirals disembarked the Zhenghe, the mood was even more delighted, with many jostling to shake their hands.

Over the next few days the Chinese navy will visit naval bases including HMAS Watson and HMAS Penguin.

At the same time an Australian ship, HMAS Warramunga, is visiting two Chinese ports.

"This visit ... is a sign of the growing maturity in our defence relationship with China," the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stephen Gilmore said.

"We have similar strategic views on many things ... we certainly wish to exchange ideas and thoughts and visit on a more routine basis."

Two Australian midshipmen joined the Zhenghe on her voyage from New Zealand.

The Australian Midshipman James Hill said it was the first time western naval officers had been on the ship.

Editor:Chen Jie

The Chinese frigate Mianyang, from the People's Republic of China, is greeted by the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge upon her arrival in Sydney Harbour for a five day goodwill visit.During their stay in Sydney, the Chinese crew members will be visiting Royal Australian Navy ships and establishments, as well as holding a number of community events.

Training ship Zhenghe, from the People's Republic of China, is greeted by the iconic Sydney Opera House upon her arrival in Sydney Harbour for a five day goodwill visit.During their stay in Sydney, the Chinese crew members will be visiting Royal Australian Navy ships and establishments, as well as holding a number of community events.

China has carried out the ninth orbital launch of the year, by launching their Long March 2D carrying the Weixing-11 remote sensing satellite. The launch took place at 02:42UTC on Wednesday, lifting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Meanwhile, Chinas has spoken about its near-term space flight goals.

Once again the Chinese media refer the new satellite as intended for “scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring.” As was the case with previous launches of the YaoGan Weixing series, Western analysts believe this class of satellites is being used for reconnaissance and military purposes.

The satellite was developed by the Aerospace Shanghai Technical Institute at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

The previous satellite in the series, YaoGan Weixing-10, was launched August 9th from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center via a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C (Long March 4C).See Also

The ‘YaoGan Weixing’ designation appears to be used in a similar fashion to that of the old Soviet ‘Cosmos’ designation, hiding the true mission of the vehicles launched into orbit.

The first YaoGan Weixing satellite (29092 2006-015A) was launched by a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C (CZ4C-1) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on April 27, 2006. At the time the details about this satellite were closely guarded, but later it was noted that it was the first Jian Bing-5 satellite, equipped with the first space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

The YaoGan Weixing-2 (31490 2007-019A) was launched on 25 May, 2007, by a CZ-2D Chang Zheng-2D (CZ2D-8) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Details were also restricted, though it is claimed that this spacecraft is an electro-optical military observation satellite, complementing the results of the YaoGan Weixing-1.

Another SAR mission was launched on November 12, 2007 with the YaoGan Weixing-3 (32289 2007-055A) satellite orbited by a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C (CZ4C-2) launch vehicle from Taiyuan. Other SAR missions are listed as the YaoGan Weixing-6 (34839 2009-021A), launched by a CZ-2C Chang Zheng-2C-III from Taiyuan on April 22, 2009, and the YaoGan Weixing-8 (36121 2009-072A), launched on December 15, 2009, by a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C also from Taiyuan.

On December 1, 2008, YaoGan Weixing-4 (33446 2008-061A) – the second electro-optical satellite on the series – was launched by a CZ-2D Chang Zheng-2D from Jiuquan, and on December 15, 2008, YaoGan Weixing-5 (33456 2008-064A) was launched by a CZ-4B Chang Zheng-4B (CZ4B-12) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. It is now believed that this satellite was the fourth electro-optical bird on the series, as well as the YaoGan Wexing-7 (36110 2009-069A) launch on December 9, 2009 from Jiuquan by a CZ-2D Chang Zheng-2D.

The YaoGan Weixing-9 mission, launched March 5 this year from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, had an architecture that was different from the previous missions on the series. Launched by a CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicle from Jiuquan, the mission put not one but a triplet of satellites in Earth orbit. Flying in formation, these three satellites form what looks like a type of NOSS system.

YaoGan Weixing-11 was launched by a CZ-2D Chang Zheng-2D launch vehicle. This is a two stage launch vehicle developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. With storable propellants, is mainly used to launch a variety of low earth orbit satellites.

The CZ-2D can launch a 3,500kg cargo in a 200 km circular orbit. Its first stage is the same of the CZ-4 Chang Zheng-4. The second stage is based on CZ-4 second stage with an improved equipment bay. The first launch of the CZ-2D was on August 9th, 1992 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center orbiting the Fanhui Shei Weixing FSW-2-1 (22072 1992-051A) recoverable satellite.

This launch was the 131st Chinese orbital launch, the 46th orbital launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and the fourth orbital launch from Jiuquan this year. This was the thirteenth use of a CZ-2D Chang Zheng-2D launch vehicle.

Also known as the Shuang Cheng Tze launch center, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Ejin-Banner – a county in Alashan League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region – was the first Chinese satellite launch center.

The site includes a Technical Centre, two Launch Complexes, Mission Command and Control Centre, Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, tracking and communication systems, gas supply systems, weather forecast systems, and logistic support systems. Jiuquan was originally used to launch scientific and recoverable satellites into medium or low earth orbits at high inclinations.

It is also the place from where all the Chinese manned missions are launched. Presently, only the LA4 launch complex (with two launch pads – SLS-1 and SLS-2) is in use.

The first orbital launch took place on April 24, 1970 when the CZ-1 Chang Zheng-1 (CZ1-1) rocket launched the first Chinese satellite, the Dong Fang Hong-1 (04382 1970-034A).

Chang’e-2:

It is now known that China plans to launch its second lunar probe, Chang’e-2, at the end of September, or on the first days of October.

A tentative launch window was given between September 30 and October 3, with a preferable launch time in the morning on September 30 (local time). The probe will be launched by a CZ-3C Chang Zheng-3C launch vehicle from the Xi Chang space center.

According to Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of China’s Lunar Probe Project, the resolution of the cameras mounted on the Chang’e-2 Moon probe have a resolution of 7 meters, and up to 1 meter when the satellite is closer to the moon.

Chang’e-2 will test soft-landings and other technologies in preparation for the launch of the Chang’e-3 – China’s first unmanned landing on the moon slated for 2013. It will also experience numerous orbital changes and adjustments. In addition, it will also carefully explore a landing zone enabling future satellites to land on the moon safely.

Chang’e-2 will reach lunar orbit within five days after launch, compared to the Chang’e-1, which required nearly 14 days. The probe will orbit 100 km closer than its predecessor, at around 15 km from the Moon.

2010 plans and beyond:

Before the end of the year China plans to launch the FY-3B Feng Yun-3B meteorological satellite, along with the launch of the ST-1B Shen Tong-1B / ZX-20 (2) ZhongXing-20 (2) military communications satellite, two more BeiDou navigation satellites, and the Shi Jian-6 Group 4 mission.

Next year will see the launch of the TianGong-1 space module. TG-1, weighing about 8,500 kg, is expected to accomplish the country’s first space docking and is regarded as an essential step toward building a space station. The unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft will be the partner in China’s first space docking, as controllers on the ground carry out the docking maneuvers. The manned Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10, the two other spaceships set to dock with Tiangong-1, will follow.

TianGong-1 will be launched by a modified CZ-2F Chang Zheng-2F launch vehicle, often referred to as CZ-2F/G Chang Zheng-2F/G. The Chinese claim the vehicle sports 170 technological modifications, 38 of which are classed as “major” modifications.

China is also pressing forward with the development of the CZ-5 Chang Zheng-5 series of launch vehicles, with the building of a launch vehicle production base in the northern municipality of Tianjin. This development has a total investment of 10 billion yuan and covers an area of more than one million square meters. The base will eventually be capable of producing 12 launch vehicles a year.

Earlier reports point to the first launch of the CZ-5, with a maximum payload capacity of up to 25,000 kg, scheduled to take place in 2014.

Recently, at an aerospace engineering forum Thursday, Ye Peijian, Commander in Chief of the Chang’e Program and an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China’s lunar-probe program – the country’s first step toward deep-space exploration – is expected to orbit the moon, land and return to Earth by 2020.

Ye proposed that China launches its first manned moon landing in 2025, a probe to Mars by 2013 and to Venus by 2015.pixelstats trackingpixel

This article was published on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 11:59 pm and is filed under Chinese.

Six warplanes took off from within China and launched long-distance "sudden attacks" in neighboring Kazakhstan in the on-going anti-terror drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said a Chinese general on Monday.

The simulated cross-border strikes were the first by the Chinese Air Force, according to Major General Meng Guoping, deputy commander of the Chinese military participating in the drill.

The six warplanes -- four H-6H bombers and two J-10 fighter jets -- were split into two missions. They were supported by an air early warning aircraft and were refueled by a flying tanker before they crossed the border into Kazakhstan, said the general.

Although the drill venue is within the range of both warplanes, they were refueled in the air to ensure a complete success of their missions, said General Meng.

Meng said by carrying out such a move in the war games, the Chinese Air Force is trying to build an integrated air battle group encompassing early warning, command, long-distance bombing, escort and air refueling.

He said the exercises are also taken as an opportunity to strengthen the air fight and support capabilities of the Chinese Air Force.

General Meng also summarized a number of new characteristics of the "Peace Mission 2010" drill, including information-based operations, field training exercises, coordinated command and control, combined actions, and diversified external support.

"Through many years of joint exercises, we have clearly understood that these (SCO) exercises could not only showcase power and deter the 'three evil forces (of terrorism, separatism and extremism)', but also serve as an important way to train our armed forces," said the general.

"Peace Mission 2010," the seventh joint drill of its kind, involved 5,000 troops from five of the six SCO member states -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan is not taking part in the drill, which runs between Sept. 9 and 25.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

A helicopter crashed in Harbin, the capital of northeastern Heilongjiang province, on Saturday, causing two injuries and no fatalities, Beijing News reported on Sunday.

It is understood that the helicopter crashed near a village in Pingfang Township on the outskirts of Harbin near the test-flight of the Hafei group at about 11 a.m. It is a new aircraft and crashed when conducting its first test flight. Rescue teams rushed to the scene after the crash and the scene was blocked off by the police.

"Compared to fixed-wing aircrafts, survival chances in helicopters are much greater when crashing," said Mr. Wang, who is a technician and has worked in the helicopter manufacturing industry nearly 20 years.

As long as there is no major damage to the rotor blade, which powers the lift, the helicopter will descend in a tolerable speed, Wang said. And if it has power, the speed of the descent will slow, so people will not be wounded, he said.

China will dispatch four military helicopters to Pakistan to assist with the country's flood relief. It is the first time Chinese military helicopters have been sent overseas to perform such duties.

The four military helicopters, belonging to Xinjiang military area command, will take off from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sept. 21, as approved by the Central Military Commission of China.

The four helicopters were previously engaged in transportation and search and rescue operations in the wake of several major natural disasters in China, including the catastrophic Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008, and Zhouqu mudslide this year.

The most devastating floods in a century swept Pakistan in July.

Aside from personnel, the four Chinese military helicopters will carry disaster-relief materials aboard.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

After completing its tour in the Gulf of Aden and good will visit to Egypt, Italy, Greece, Singapore and Myanmar. DDG168 is now hosting a three-day open house in her home city of Guangzhou. It is still not too late to make your way to the Guangzhou's Nansha Automobile Terminal.

The vessels are part of the fifth Chinese naval escort flotilla, which just completed patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks.

At 3 p.m. local time, some 200 people, including Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Wei Wei and other Chinese diplomats, representatives of Chinese companies and students, waved goodbye to see off the navy soldiers at the port.

During its stopover at Singapore, the flotilla added supplies and exchanged with the Singapore navy on escort experiences. The two navies also held a joint naval drill on Tuesday afternoon.

China's fifth naval escort flotilla with more than 800 officers and soldiers has successfully escorted 588 Chinese and foreign vessels in 41 batches since it arrived in the pirate-infested waters in early March this year. The flotilla docked Singapore on Sept. 5 before visiting Egypt, Italy, Greece and Myanmar, and is expected to arrive in China on Sept. 11.